Can You Be Too Young To Wear A Nice Watch?

Too Young To Wear A Nice Watch?

What is a “nice watch” anyway?

The definition of a luxury watch is murky, to say the least, and the brands themselves don’t make it any easier. Frankly, a true luxury watch costs over $7,000 and features an in-house movement. With the exception of a few brands, it almost exclusively comes from Switzerland. However, different luxury brands give off different messages to friends and colleagues.

IWC, for example, can be a true luxury brand, but only with certain models. It is also a brand that doesn’t inspire much resentment; it’s the thinking man’s luxury watch. Something like a Jaeger-LeCoultre would fall into a similar category — no doubt a luxury watch, but not necessarily one that would inspire hatred.

Then you have a brand like Patek Philippe or A. Lange & Söhne. First, neither makes a watch that retails for under $15,000, so right away, we’re talking serious money. While the merits of IWC and JLC can be debated all day, it is commonly held that Patek and Lange make some of the finest watches in the world. If you are wearing something from either of these brands, you better have earned it.

The Rolex factor

Wearing a Rolex is an entirely different animal. No brand creates so much drama for its young owners. A Rolex is a luxury brand, certainly, but really an entry-level luxury brand. It makes close to a million watches a year, so nothing you can buy from the company has any air of exclusivity about it. That said, it makes for the most timeless of family heirlooms and the most stylish of menswear accessories. But if you are under the age of 30 and wearing a Rolex to the office (one that wasn’t handed to you by your father on his deathbed, anyway), you are just begging for trouble.

If you really want to wear a Rolex (believe me, I understand the allure), make it a vintage model. They sell for roughly the same price as new models and don’t have quite the same “shine” that many find offensive with modern pieces.

the final word

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong time or place to wear an expensive watch, but just consider what you would think if a 21-year-old analyst showed up on his first day wearing a watch worth more than your car. You do not want to be that guy.